What is Dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of cognitive symptoms, rather than a condition. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, which makes up the majority of cases. As well as Alzheimer’s disease, there are other forms of dementia, including: Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia and Frontotemporal Dementia. Young-onset dementia is another form of dementia that affects people under the age of 65. These forms of dementia can present as mixed symptoms. This means that a person may have more than one form of dementia.

Read about the dementia risk factors here.

What is it like living with dementia?

Individuals with dementia can experience changes in their memory, cognition, and behaviour. It affects communication and decision making, making it more difficult to perform everyday tasks. In turn, this can affect relationships and feelings of self-worth. Despite impacting millions of people, there are still a great many misunderstandings around it. Find advice on keeping family connections strong when caring for someone with dementia here.

Common symptoms of dementia

It is important to remember that dementia is not a normal part of ageing. It is caused by different diseases that damage the brain and stop it from working properly. Not everyone experiences dementia the same, and the different types of dementia can affect people in different ways. Some common early stage symptoms can include:

  • Memory loss.
  • Changes in mood.
  • Confusion about the time and place.
  • Struggling to find the right word/following conversations.
  • Concentration difficulties.
  • Difficulty completing daily tasks.
  • Issues with spatial awareness.

What to do if you’re worried someone has dementia – how to get a diagnosis

The initial point of contact for accessing care services is either your GP or Adult Social Care services.

If you’re concerned about persistent forgetfulness, cognitive decline, or memory difficulties of a friend or family member, it’s essential to consult a GP. They can undertake an initial examination and refer you to a memory clinic for further tests. These tests can investigate a person’s cognitive abilities and neurological functions. The test results can identify the early signs of dementia, as well as developing dementia symptoms. As the disease progresses, the need for assistance with daily activities and personal care increases.

What Dementia support is available?

Receiving a dementia diagnosis can be a lonely and scary time. Dementia affects daily activities, communication, and behaviour, making support crucial in managing these challenges. It is important to remember you are not alone. Nationwide, there are a range of support groups and dementia friendly activities that can help, encompassing the NHS, Adult Social Care and voluntary agencies. Here are some examples:

Memory cafés:

A Memory Café is a setting for people with dementia and other neurological conditions to meet. In this group setting you can discuss your condition with people who are likely going through the same experiences. It is also a space for carers to come together and provide support. Read more about memory café’s here and search our directory here.

Specialist day centres:

Day centres are designed to introduce you to new people and activities, while also providing your carer with a break from their responsibilities. Day centres are a great way to try new activities or continue with a favourite hobby. Find out more about day centres here.

Home care:

Specialised dementia homecare can help you remain at home. People with Dementia may struggle in new environments and may function better and be more content in the familiar surroundings of their own home. Home care provides a personalised experience, tailored to your condition and needs, and delivered in your own home making it a good option. After an assessment of the person’s needs, the provider can draw up a plan. Read more about home care here or start your search for home care providers near you.

Dementia Friends:

The Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Friends is a programme that aims to change people’s perceptions of dementia. It helps people understand Dementia and the small things they can do to make a difference to those with the condition. These can be anything from helping someone find the right bus to spreading the word about Dementia. Read more about the programme here.

What support is available for dementia carers?

If you are supporting a family member with dementia, it can be a daunting and potentially isolating experience. Having a good network can help. Memory loss is a significant aspect of dementia, impacting daily life and causing distress for both the individual and their caregivers. It is important to identify the signs of carer burnout and seek support if you are concerned you may be reaching a state of burnout.

Carers’ support groups:

Local services often include carer support groups. If you are caring for someone with dementia, you need to make sure you are also looking after yourself. You can find details of carer support groups in our Regional Care Services Directories, as well as in our useful contacts section. There are also a number of online support forums. Carers UK website is a great resource – whether caring for someone with a form of dementia, another condition, or simply old age.

Respite care:

Respite care is when a family carer takes a break from supporting their loved one and someone else takes over their caring role. This can be a family or friend, or a professional care service. Respite is important and prioritising yourself isn’t selfish – it’s vital to enable you to care, as former family carer Beth Britton explains in this article. If you are ready to start your search for respite care, click here and select ‘Respite’ from the ‘Care Types’ drop down menu.

Making a home safe for cognitive decline

It is important to make your loved one’s home dementia-safe. Making changes over a long period of time can reduce confusion. Before starting with changes, you should apply for a Needs Assessment from your family member’s local council. Your loved one may be entitled to home alterations that will help them stay independent. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is also important for individuals with dementia to prevent worsening symptoms.

Changes to a home could include:

  • Installing flooring that reduces the risk of trips and falls.
  • Utilising signs so they can easily locate items and rooms.
  • Improving lighting, especially natural lighting in the home, can also reduce the risk of trips and falls and confusion.
  • Removing mirrors, especially if your loved one doesn’t recognise their reflection. Mirrors around the house may cause distress.

Activities for people living with Dementia

Keeping people with Dementia occupied and engaged can help them to manage their symptoms. In addition, finding activities they enjoy and can complete is essential to helping them feel a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Keeping active genuinely helps a person’s cognition, and many advocates who are living with dementia credit their active and busy lives with their ability to keep the progression of their dementia in check. So what activities are best? The short answer here is any activity the person with dementia enjoys!

Some activity ideas to try at home:

Games

  • Games can be a perfect way to avoid boredom when someone is living with Dementia.
  • Specialist Dementia games can include simplified versions of family favourites, like snakes and ladders or scrabble; reminiscence activities that might spark memories or conversations; and easy word search books.

Crafts

  • Crafts such as drawing, painting or cutting and sticking can be good interactive projects for anyone living with Dementia. Adult colouring books are widely available, but you can also get more straightforward books that might have more familiar images.
  • Depending on the stage of the person’s Dementia, you might want to consider ‘painting with water’ sets. These are sheets of paper that you paint water onto to reveal a colourful image. Some are reusable as, when they dry, the image disappears.
  • There are many other craft activities suitable for people with Dementia. Including making collages, doing activities using different textures, and modelling using playdough or clay.

Jigsaws

  • There are puzzles designed especially for people with Dementia.
  • These usually have between 10 and 70 large pieces that form a traditional puzzle image.
  • If your relative enjoys jigsaws, this activity could stimulate them without being too complex to complete. The completed pictures are appropriate for adults and cover many themes.

Sensory

  • Sensory activities can be an incredibly calming pastime for people with Dementia.
  • You can buy games that use smells to trigger memories, or purchase or make a ‘fiddle muff’ if the person struggles with fidgeting.

Music

  • Music is a great way to engage people living with all stages of Dementia. Any music can help, for example, creating a personalised playlist of songs that can be associated with happy memories.
  • If the person with Dementia lives alone, consider a simple radio with very few buttons for ease of use. Even singing a favourite song can be an opportunity to connect.

Household tasks

  • If the person with Dementia shows interest, let them carry out tasks around the house. Anything like folding towels to laying the table, or washing up can help them feel a sense of accomplishment and purpose.
  • Be prepared that, depending on the level of their symptoms, the individual may not complete the tasks perfectly. Try not to see it as them ‘helping’ you with chores; instead, support them to enjoy the experience.

Ultimately, when introducing activities, be led by the person with Dementia. Whatever they choose to do should be enjoyable and engaging. What is of interest one day may not be the next. Consider how the person with Dementia feels about specific activities and what they may have enjoyed in the past. Try to remember that some people can become frustrated by tasks that require completion if they cannot complete them.

Dementia care homes

If caring for a loved one becomes too overwhelming, together, you may decide to look at residential care.

A suitable home will offer a person-centred approach to Dementia care; this means that each individual’s unique qualities and interests will be identified, understood, and accounted for.

The person with Dementia will have an assessment, and an ongoing personalised care plan agreed that identifies a named care coordinator and addresses their individual needs.

Those with Dementia must also have the opportunity to discuss and make decisions together with their carers about:

  • The uses of advance statements.
  • Advance decisions to refuse treatment.
  • Lasting Power of Attorney.
  • Preferred Priorities of Care.

Finding the right care home

One size doesn’t fit all. Care and support options must be tailored as some options can work well for one individual but prove to be stressful and unsuitable for another person.

What you can do

To help the person with Dementia feel more comfortable in their surroundings, you can:

  • Ensure staff can get to know them by telling staff about their likes and dislikes.
  • Making sure the individual has belongings that bring comfort and have meaning can also help them settle in.
  • Providing life-story books can be a good way of helping the staff and the individual to recall details.

What staff can do

The environment within the home itself is largely down to the attitude and skills of the manager and staff:

  • Do they try to enable those with Dementia to exercise choice and personal preferences even in later stages of their condition?
  • Who is the person in charge of championing Dementia care best practices in the home?
  • Dementia-specific training is needed to ensure care home staff understand how best to support and care for people with Dementia.

Care and nursing homes can offer routine, as well as specialist support based on specific dementia symptoms. Find a dementia care home here and download this dementia checklist for when you visit prospective options.

Common Questions

Can you drive after a dementia diagnosis?

After receiving a diagnosis, you are required by law to inform the DVLA and car insurance provider. You may be required to provide medical documents or have a specialised assessment to confirm you can drive.

How to maintain a healthy diet and remain active?

Eating a healthy diet is imperative after a dementia diagnosis. In this article, Dr Barbara Sharp, offers tips for informal carers on dementia and nutrition and how to make sure the person you care for is eating and drinking well. In this article, Beth Britton explains the importance of remaining active after receiving a diagnosis, and how the simplest of activities can have a significant impact.

Back To Top